Nursing Resources

The human brain has amazed and baffled people throughout the ages. Some scientists and doctors have devoted their entire lives to learning how the brain works. It is no wonder that people enjoy learning facts about this incredible organ in the human body. Below, you will find 100 facts about the brain including how it works, how it develops, what it controls, how it affects sleep, dreams, and memory, and more, which may be helpful. When you finish reading about these fun facts, take this short brainpower quiz and see how much you learned about the human brain.

Physical Attributes

These facts will teach you interesting bits of information about the physical make-up of the human brain.

Weight. The weight of the human brain is about 3 lbs.

Cerebrum. The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and makes up 85% of the brain’s weight.

Skin. Your skin weighs twice as much as your brain.

Gray matter. The brain’s gray matter is made up of neurons, which gather and transmit signals.

White matter. The white matter is made up of dendrites and axons, which create the network by which neurons send their signals.

Gray and white. Your brain is 60% white matter and 40% gray matter.

Water. The brain is made up of about 75% water.

Neurons. Your brain consists of about 100 billion neurons.

Synapses. There are anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 synapses for each neuron.

No pain. There are no pain receptors in the brain, so the brain can feel no pain.

Largest brain. While an elephant’s brain is physically larger than a human brain, the human brain is 2% of total body weight (compared to 0.15% of an elephant’s brain), meaning humans have the largest brain to body size.

Love hormones and autism. Oxytocin, one of the hormones responsible for triggering feelings of love in the brain, has shown some benefits to helping control repetitive behaviors in those with autism.

Food and intelligence. A study of one million students in New York showed that students who ate lunches that did not include artificial flavors, preservatives, and dyes did 14% better on IQ tests than students who ate lunches with these additives.

Seafood. In the March 2003 edition of Discover magazine, a report describes how people in a 7-year study who ate seafood at least one time every week had a 30% lower occurrence of dementia.

Psychology of the Brain

From tickling to tasting to decision-making, find out how the brain affects what you experience.

Imaginary playmates. A study from Australia showed that children with imaginary playmates between the ages of 3 and 9 tended to be first-born children.

Reading faces. Without any words, you may be able to determine if someone is in a good mood, is feeling sad, or is angry just by reading the face. A small area in the brain called the amygdala is responsible for your ability to read someone else’s face for clues to how they are feeling.

Ringing in the ears. For years, medical professionals believed that tinnitus was due to a function within the mechanics of the ear, but newer evidence shows that it is actually a function of the brain.

Supertasters. There is a class of people known as supertasters who not only have more taste buds on the tongue, but whose brain is more sensitive to the tastes of foods and drinks. In fact, they can detect some flavors that others cannot.

Cold. Some people are much more sensitive to cold and actually feel pain associated with cold. Research as shown that the reason is due to certain channels that send cold information to the brain.

Decision-making. Women tend to take longer to make a decision, but are more likely to stick with the decision, compared to men, who are more likely to change their mind after making a decision.

Exercise. Some studies indicate that while some people are naturally more active, others are naturally more inactive, which may explain why getting out and exercising is more difficult for some.

Boredom. Boredom is brought on by a lack of change of stimulation, is largely a function of perception, and is connected to the innate curiosity found in humans.

Physical illness. The connection between body and mind is a strong one. One estimate is that between 50-70% of visits to the doctor for physical ailments are attributed to psychological factors.

Sadness and shopping. Researchers have discovered that those experiencing the blues are more willing to spend more money in an attempt to alleviate their sadness.

Memory

Learn how scent, jet lag, and estrogen affect memory, plus plenty of other information, with these facts.

Nightly average. Most people dream about 1-2 hours a night and have an average of 4-7 dreams each night.

Brain waves. Studies show that brain waves are more active while dreaming than when you are awake.

Lost dreams. Five minutes after a dream, half of the dream is forgotten. Ten minutes after a dream, over 90% is forgotten. Write down your dreams immediately if you want to remember them.

Blind people dream. Dreams are more than just visual images, and blind people do dream. Whether or not they dream in pictures depends on if they were born blind or lost their vision later.

Color or B&W. Some people (about 12%) dream only in black and white while others dream in color.

Virtually paralyzed. While you sleep, your body produces a hormone that may prevent you from acting out your dreams, leaving you virtually paralyzed.

Snoring. If you are snoring, you are not dreaming.

During a dream. If you are awakened during a dream, you are much more likely to remember the dream than if you slept until a full night’s sleep.

Symbolism. As those who invest in dream dictionaries can attest, dreams almost never represent what they actually are. The unconscious mind strives to make connections with concepts you will understand, so dreams are largely symbolic representations.

Adenosine. Caffeine works to block naturally occurring adenosine in the body, creating alertness. Scientists have recently discovered this connection and learned that doing the opposite–boosting adenosine–can actually help promote more natural sleep patterns and help eliminate insomnia.

Dream showings. Japanese researchers have successfully developed a technology that can put thoughts on a screen and may soon be able to screen people’s dreams.

Fun and Interesting Facts

From juggling to a Brain Bank to cannibalism, read about these fun and interesting brain facts.

Airplanes and headaches. A study showed a correlation between flying and headaches and states that around 6% of people who fly get headaches brought on by the flight itself.

Juggling. Juggling has shown to change the brain in as little as seven days. The study indicates that learning new things helps the brain to change very quickly.

Thoughts. The average number of thoughts that humans are believed to experience each day is 70,000.

Ambidexterity. Those who are left-handed or ambidextrous have a corpus collosum (the part of the brain that bridges the two halves) that is about 11% larger than those who are right-handed.

Stressful job. According to a study by Bristol-Myers Squibb, accountants have the highest incidence of on-the-job headaches, followed by librarians, then bus and truck drivers.

Aristotle. Aristotle mistakenly thought that the functions of the brain actually took place in the heart.

Cannibalism. Some research shows that humans carry genes that help protect the brain from prion diseases, or diseases contracted through eating human flesh, leading medical experts to believe that ancient humans may have eaten other humans.

Shakespeare. The word "brain" appears 66 times in the plays of William Shakespeare.

Famous Brains

People have always been fascinated with the brains of famous people. Find out what experts know about these famous brains.

Albert Einstein. Einstein’s brain was similar in size to other humans except in the region that is responsible for math and spatial perception. In that region, his brain was 35% wider than average.

London taxi drivers. Famous for knowing all the London streets by heart, these drivers have a larger than normal hippocampus, especially the drivers who have been on the job longest. The study suggests that as people memorize more and more information, this part of their brain continues to grow.

Daniel Tammet. Daniel Tammet is an autistic savant who, since the age of three when he suffered an epileptic seizure, has been able to perform astounding mathematical computations, knows seven languages, and is developing a language of his own.

Crohn’s disease, an autoimmune disease that affects the bowel causing inflammation, pain, and gastrointestinal symptoms, affects hundreds of thousands of people in North America alone. Whether you are newly diagnosed with Crohn’s disease or have been living with it for years, finding new information, support, and a sense of community is always important. With no known cure and varying approaches to treatment, gathering and sharing knowledge is an excellent way to help yourself and others deal with this disease. Below, you will find articles, support groups, education, foundations and associations, information on diet, clinical trials, and blogs from other people living with a diagnosis of Crohn’s.

The Basics

Learn the basics from descriptions of Crohn’s to symptoms to medical treatment options with these resources.

These associations and foundations from around the world all offer help, information, and medical advice for those living with Crohn’s. No matter where you live, you can share information and find support.

ButYouDon’tLookSick.com. Anyone suffering from chronic illness, pain, or invisible disabilities can benefit from the articles, book and product reviews, and message board at this site.

Shaz’s Ostomy Pages. Learn about the various forms of ostomies, read other people’s stories, and connect with other "ostomates" at this site.

Crohn’s/Colitis Home Page. Having been around for 13 years, this site aims to be a "one-stop" site for information and support.

Crohn’s Disease Info Center. Find information on Crohn’s as well as information on a current clinical trial that includes research, trial information, a physician information kit, and more. You can also join on the message board, get newsletters, and find links to other resources.

David’s Crohn’s & Colitis Webpage. check out all the useful information available here, then participate in message boards and support groups, or just check out the "Best and Worst times to have to go" section.

Teens With Crohn’s Disease Website. Teens can read about the experience of other teens living with Crohn’s, participate in message boards and chat rooms, get recipes, and more.

Annee’s Crohn’s Disease Page. Annee shares her experience of living with Crohn’s and also offers tons of information and opportunities for support here.

Articles

From video interviews with average people living with Crohn’s to travel to college to humor, these articles offer information and more to those touched by Crohn’s.

Crohn’s Disease. This very detailed article describes the disease, genetic connections, diet, stress, types of Crohn’s diseases, and much more.

sophia.and.org. This website presents its information in a rather different format. The woman here had an ileostomy ten years ago and has several editorial pieces that describe her life experiences. Click through the website to discover them all.

About.com Crohn’s Disease. Get plenty of great information from the articles here that cover everything from surgery to book reviews to traveling with Crohn’s.

New York Times Well. This article from a blog at the New York Times offers video of seven people living with Crohn’s.

Surviving College with IBD. This multi-part About.com article offers sound advice for teens living with Crohn’s going off to college.

Confessions of a Chicken Man. Written by a man living with Crohn’s, this article describes food choices made while traveling and the empowerment in his choices.

The Lighter Side. If you find you need a little humor, then check out this site that shows advertising that holds special humor for those living with Crohn’s.

Communities

Connect with other people living with Crohn’s by participating in these great online communities.

PatientsLikeMe. This community brings together people living with illness. If you don’t see a community of people dealing with your exact disorder, send a request and they will add it.

CarePages. Create a care page and help friends and family stay connected to your health journey as well as meet new friends undergoing the same health concerns.

Cafe Chronique. Become a member here and have access to forums, chats, groups and more. Create your own page to help connect with others living with chronic illness.

Crohnsforum.com. Complete a free registration to participate in the forums here that discuss many aspects of living with Crohn’s.

IBD Sucks!. Specifically for those with Crohn’s and other IBDs, register for free to participate in the forum here.

Invisible Illness. This site has articles, offers support and more for those dealing with an "invisible" illness.

Every Patient’s Advocate. Trisha Torrey works as a patient advocate after being mistakenly diagnosed with a terminal illness. Read her blog for tips, news, and more to empower every patient to be their own advocate.

The J-Pouch Group. This website is dedicated to educating and providing support to those who plan to have the surgery or are living with a J-pouch.

IBS Tales: Personal Stories of IBS. Read about the experiences of others dealing with IBS at this site where stories are categorized by happy, sad, and embarrassing. You can also find articles, details of specific therapies, and more.

Clinical Trials

Many people seek clinical trials in search of new, innovative treatments and to help further research. If you are interested in clinical trials for your Crohn’s disease, then check out these resources.

ClinicalTrials.gov. Use this resource to find both federally funded and privately funded clinical trials around the world.

CenterWatch. Patients can get information about clinical trials, health associations, and even receive trial notifications with this service.

Clinical Trials Search.org. Search for clinical trials in the US or internationally by condition, location, or sponsor at this site.

Clinical Connection. Not only can you find clinical trials here, but you can also receive notifications, participate in message boards, and get an education about clinical trials.

SCDUK. Out of the UK, this not-for-profit site offers support, information, and recipes for those following the SCD in order to ease symptoms of Crohn’s as well as Celiacs, colitis, and other digestive disorders.

Intestinal Health Through Diet. This site provides information on the SCD, tips for starting and maintaining the diet, recipes, resources, and even a local support group if you live in or near Austin, TX.

Blogs are an excellent way for those with Crohn’s to read about how others live with the disease as well as find a community of support.

Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness. Written by a lawyer and Crohn’s disease sufferer, this blogger provides information about chronic illness and patient advocacy as well as writing about her own struggles with chronic illness.

I’d Like to Buy a Bowel. This young woman not only blogs about her Crohn’s, but actively works to raise awareness and funds for further research.

The Bright Side of Crohn’s. Posts here are written by a young woman newly diagnosed with Crohn’s and include tons of information from learning the facts about Crohn’s to a personal, heartfelt letter to Crohn’s.

chronic holiday. Part of living with chronic illness or disability is hearing crazy things come out of people’s mouths. This blog is dedicated to some of the things people have said to this blogger in the course of the illness.

Professional Patient. This blog offers suggestions for managing chronic illness and disability and managing the world of insurance.

sick girl speaks!. This girl hasn’t let chronic illness slow her down. As a writer and speaker, her blog is an extension of her work as an advocate for patients and and those who live with chronic illness.

Farty Girl. Diagnosed with IBS and lactose intolerance, this woman is now possibly gaining a celiac diagnosis. She blogs about her experiences with going gluten-free and dealing with digestive disorders.

Food and Recipe Blogs

Living with Crohn’s often means changing the way you eat. These blogs have recipes, share diets, and often infuse a warm sense of belonging.

Almost everyone has heard about ways they can improve their health and wellness, but sometimes everything just comes together more clearly when you see it in action. The following videos offer suggestions, demonstrations, and medical education to help you learn ways to keep yourself healthy or recover from illness. Covering topics like prevention of disease, disorders, good nutrition, healthy pregnancy and birth experience, and good mental health, these instructional videos will guide you to a longer, stronger life.

General Health Videos

These videos will help you find your natural energy, eliminate disease, learn the importance of standing up during the day, and more.

Health and Society. This group of videos is based on lectures from Stanford physicians touching on research and treatment of a variety of disorders affecting society from cholesterol to parenting to sleep disorders.

Health Matters. This video series was originally aired on PBS and touches on a variety of health treatment issues from better hearing to understanding your child’s health check-up.

Mind & Body. Many people find they are able to change their physical health through visualization, self-hypnosis, meditation, massage, and more techniques that can affect the way a patient approaches her health and wellness.

Unleashing Your Natural Energy. You don’t have to feel exhausted all day with these great tips to find your energy including connecting with others, mentally centering yourself, better nutrition, and more.

The Food Allergy Project. Parents with no food allergies who have children with life-threatening food allergies explore why this phenomenon is happening.

Nutrition

Eating right is something everyone should do, but it’s not always so easy. From reconfiguring the diet on the go to avoiding the freshman 15 to better holiday eating, these videos will help you learn how to eat better.

Caffeine OD. Learn about the use of caffeine and how many people are getting too much caffeine as well as why too much caffeine is not healthy.

Calorie Labeling. A new potential law will require restaurants with more than 15 locations to list the calories in their foods. Find out the health and business implications of this law.

Soda Free Summer. This video tells about how these San Francisco children forego soda for the summer–and why.

Men and Beer Guts. Find out why men’s spare tire may put them at risk for many other health problems and how to determine if you need to lose the belly.

Eat Slowly. Slow down and enjoy your food and not only will you appreciate your meal, but you will be less likely to gain extra weight.

Menu Makeover. Professionals help busy mothers learn how to make healthier choices when eating on the go.

Snacking Study. Many gravitate to an unhealthy snack even when they are concerned with eating better.

Freshman 15. The idea that students gain 15 pounds when they begin college doesn’t have to be a reality. Learn how to prevent that weight gain with this video.

Healthy Holidays. Eating too much during the holidays is not a new phenomena. Learn how you can better manage your eating during the holidays.

ADHD in the Family. Learn about the possible genetic connection and how families share ADHD traits.

Children and Research. While this video is specifically directed at parents who are considering allowing their child to be a part of a medical research program, it provides an excellent overview of child research and why it is important.

Dry Drowning. This phenomena has just recently been getting the attention it deserves. Find out how a child can drown after he has left the pool.

What is Autism?. Watch these videos from Autism Speaks to learn all about autism.

Autism Show. Find out about this show that reaches out to autistic children and how it works to help those on the autism spectrum.

‘Autism’s False Profits’. Watch this video that profiles a recent book that warns parents away from treatments for autism that may lead parents away from the truly helpful treatments.

Pediatric Cancer. This video describes a study that looks at the occurrence of pediatric cancer by geographic location in the US.

Teen Suicide: Too Young to Die. Learn about the recent increase in teen suicide, warning signs, and prevention in this webcast every parent should watch.

Teen Sleep. There is a connection between lack of sleep and high blood pressure in teens. Find out about more in this video.

Stressed Students. Therapy in schools? Learn how some schools are using therapy to relax students during their busy school days.

If you’re a nurse or worker in a hospice, you know that your profession comes with special needs (not just a lifetime supply of Cherokee Workwear Scrubs) and emotions. There are a number of websites out there that recognize this need, and offer help and support to those who need it. Read on, and you’ll find 100 sites and resources that can help you get the support that you need.

Resource Sources

Use these websites as a jumping off point to finding resources.

Hospicenet: Visit Hospicenet to get useful resources that will help you and your patients face life threatening illnesses.

Family Care Navigator: Through the Family Care Navigator, you can find support programs and resources throughout the US.

It is often said that children are one of the greatest natural resources and parents and loved-ones imagine the future through the next generation. Whether the job becomes finding ways to keep children healthy or learning how to treat, cure, or offer respite to those who face health challenges, parents and healthcare professionals are in the position of making sure children get what they need. The following blogs share the knowledge and experience from those striving for a better world for children’s health and well-being.

Health and Wellness

Both parents and medical professionals alike work for a common goal of keeping children healthy. These blogs offer advice from professionals and parents alike on how to do just that.

Blog@BeautifulCanvas.org. This mom writes about her family and their journey with a daughter suffering from Tay-Sachs, AB Variant.

Autism Spectrum Disorders

With autism awareness at an all time high, more families are receiving help for their children. As research and eduation continues on a range of autism related disorders, these blogs help spread the word.

Social Skills for Kids. Aimed at children with autism, Asperger’s, and ADHD, this blog includes great posts touching on important social skill issues such as providing down time, helping kids understand subtle emotions, and focusing on the child’s strength.

Action for Autism. This father and educator from the UK writes books and speaks about autism. This is his blog offering a look at the writing and research currently going on in the study of autism.

Asperger-blog.com. Find links to books, resources, and news or get first-hand reports of what it’s like having a son with Asperger’s in this mom’s blog.

Autism Watch: 2007. Parenting her autistic son since his birth in 2000, this mom writes about news, research, her experience, and opinions on the current trends.

Hoping, Not Coping. Spreading the word about autism and sharing their family’s journey, this blog strives to inspire and educate.

What We Need. Dealing with high-functioning autism, this family shares their experience of living and loving their seven year-old son.

Nutrition

Good nutrition is one of the greatest contributors to good health in children. These blogs offer the best advice, recipes, and ideas for healthy eating.

Smart Foods Healthy Kids smart mama blog. From serving sizes to marketing healthy snacks to children to healthy breakfasts not from a cereal box, this blog promotes nutritional education for children, parents, and caregivers.

YummyAllergenFree. Written by a mom of three girls with food allergies, this blog provides recipes, support, and more for families dealing with food allergies.

Food Allergy Buzz. With a focus on support for families dealing with food allergies, this blog provides links to allergen-free snacks, food allergy news, and more.

The Allergic Kid. From getting the low-down on medic alert bracelets to allergen-free recipes, this informative blog is worth reading.

Please Don’t Pass the Nuts. Get advice and more from this licensed psychotherapist/social worker who works with the food-allergic community (and has food allergies herself). Check out her listing of NYC restaurants that are allergy-free.

ModernAllergyMom. From wheat-free play dough to food allergies in the news, this mom offers great posts to those dealing with food allergies.

Peanut Free Mama. Not only does this mama blog about all things peanut-free, but she also touches on other food allergies as well, specifically dairy and soy.

The Milk-Free Blog. A part of GoDairyFree.org, this blog offers products and recipes for a dairy-free diet.

Karina’s Kitchen. Get delicious gluten-free recipes from this blog written by a cook who discovered she has celiac disease.

Gluten-Free Organics and More!. Written by a naturopathic doctor and mom of a whole family with gluten intolerances, this blog offers great suggestions for how to eat and live healthily gluten-free.

Vaccines

With such great debate among parents about whether or not to vaccinate your child and if you vaccinate, what schedule to follow, these blogs offer a view from many sides of the argument in a conversation that leaves all sides trying to do what is best for their children.

Left Brain Right Brain. This father of an autistic daughter offers science to support vaccination while advocating for neurodiversity acceptance among the autistic population.

Saying No to Vaccines. "Supporting your decision not to vaccinate," this Doctor of Osteopathy offers reasons not to vaccinate.

Vaccine Blog. This blog takes a scientific approach to the pro-vaccine stance.

Vaccine Awakening. Striving to support parent rights to vaccine choices, this woman blogs about legislature and news surrounding parents’ rights.

VaccineEthics.org Blog. This bioethics research organization focuses on ethical practice of medicine. Their blog reports the latest news on the vaccine and bioethics front.

Dental Health

Not to be dismissed, dental health is an important part of overall health and is frequently overlooked by parents. These blogs offer the best on children’s dental health information.

Pediatric Dentistry. Learn about pediatric dentistry and orthodontics on this blog that also features topics for those in the Alabama area–and an entertaining pig.

Dr. Timon’s Pediatric Dental Blog. While learning about sealants and mercury used in dental fillings, you can also see a bit of personal information about Dr. Timon and the rest of the staff in his office.

Small Tooth Talk. From flossing to EMG muscle awareness to the definition of a board certified dentist, this blog tells about it all.

Big Grins: Dr. Greg Evans. Get monthly updates at this blog where the benefits of Xylitol reside next to updates on moving the dental practice into a new building.

Children’s Dentistry Tips!. Learn about preventing tooth decay and more on this new blog devoted to keeping children’s teeth healthy.

Childbirth and Breastfeeding

Coming into this world can be a joyous as well as a potentially dangerous journey. Read these blogs for information and advice on creating a beautiful childbirth and breastfeeding experience for the mother and child.

Harvard Medical Labcast. Listen to podcasts from experts at Harvard Medical School as they offer a glimpse into the groundbreaking work going on in the field of medicine.

Medcast. From the Stanford School of Medicine, these podcasts offer a sampling of lectures from renowned experts. some podcasts include stem cell research, childhood obesity, and women and heart disease.

Johns Hopkins Medicine Podcasts. Presented by a professor of medicine and the director of electronic media, this podcast brings weekly looks at all the top news from the medical world.

Children’s Health Podcasts. From the Medical University of South Carolina, listen to the many topics available ranging from asthma to breastfeeding to sickle cell disease.

Pediatric Physical Therapy. Select from the available podcasts on Science Audio to find out about the latest in physical therapy for children.

For or By Professionals

With everything from research to health care ethics to recent news, these blogs usually touch on child-specific topics, but sometimes venture into the greater field of medicine as it affects children and adults alike.

PediatricEducation.org Blog. While specifically designed for medical professionals, this blog is also available for parents wanting to learn more. Each blog post contains a case history and options for learning more.

Dr. J’s HouseCalls. This pediatrician takes a look at the field of medicine from her perspective with a run-in with some questionable non-profit board members at a hospital.

Dr. David’s Blog. This practicing pediatrician, who also works as a professor of oncology, blogs about pediatric oncology, cancer research, and cancer treatments.

Family Medicine Notes. This physician keeps notes of what he learns through his practice and offers advice as well as links to medical news in his blog.

The Health Advocate. A collaborative blog of The Health Advocacy Program at Sarah Lawrence, this blog examines the issues surrounding patient advocacy and the current state of health care in America.

Health Care Organizational Ethics. This Harvard professor writes about the state of health care, including topics such as personal responsibility, pharmaceuticals, and hospital ethics.

Momma Data. This former research psychologist and current mother analyzes and writes about recent pediatric and family topics in the news.

Momwithastethoscope’s Weblog. From tainted baby formula in China to celebrity moms taking good care of their kiddos, this mom-doctor-blogger writes about a variety of topics.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Law Blog. This blogger is both a practicing lawyer and was an associate professor at Harvard Medical School. He currently writes about integrating complementary and alternative medicine into western medical practice.

Dr. Thompson’s Blog. This practicing pediatrician and professor of pediatrics writes about the state of health care with a focus on children and family issues.

Although games have traditionally been viewed as strictly leisure activities, and often, time wasters, the fact is that there are a number of games available that will help you improve your health and wellness. Whether they are video games, fun devices, or brain games, many games can help you on your quest for self improvement. Read on to learn about 50 different games that will help you step up your fitness, brain power, and overall wellness.

Video Games

These video games offer valuable wellness education in a fun package.

Fable: In this game, the main character chooses foods to consume, and depending on whether he eats high fat or low fat foods, his appearance will change.

Heart Sense: This video game works to help increase heart attack awareness.

Re-Mission: While playing Re-Misson, kids take on missions that help them defeat malignant cancer cells.